Gov’t-MILF Peace Talks: New Milestone for PH

‘All things shall come to pass’ is a relevant adage as Pres. Benigno Aquino III has recently taken an aggressive move to meet the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Japan to initially discuss the peace talks giving both parties an opportunity to resolve conflicts and disagreements that have stunted the country’s development in Mindanao for years.

Earlier, in August 2008, the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order for a homeland deal between the government and MILF has halted the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), resulting to hostilities by rogue MILF groups in scattered regions in Central Mindanao and Sarangani Province and displacing many families living in these areas. The MOA-AD, which led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Judicial Entity, a separate government in Mindanao, was later ruled by the High Court as unconstitutional.

Pres. Aquino III’s initiative to meet MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ibrahim is a big leap giving a sign of hope and positive intention of looking into all possible approaches to move the peace process forward.

The President, in his informal meeting with the MILF chair held in the suburbs of Tokyo, was accompanied by his key cabinet members such as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Budget and Management Sec. Florencio Abad, Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Panel Chair Marvic Leonen.

Murad was joined by some members of the Central Committee, the MILF’s negotiating panel and some base commanders.

Key Points

According to Leonen, in a press statement, the informal meeting was basically cordial with frank and candid exchange of views regarding the continuing peace talks frames and some possible approaches that the parties can take to bring about a peaceful settlement. Both agreed that the implementation of any negotiation should occur within the Aquino administration and are wiling to both fast track the negotiations.

Leonen says “it was P-Noy himself who sought the meeting prior to the government’s submission of its own agenda for the talks.” He adds the meeting facilitates progress of the formal negotiations between the GPH and MILF panels.

In June 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the meeting between Pres. Aquino and Murad has been pre-planned. The MILF views this government’s initiative a “grand gesture” and the Moro group was honored to meet Pres. Aquino.

Leonen claims this is the first time that a Philippine president meets with the MILF chair since the negotiations commenced 14 years ago. He likewise thanked the Government of Japan for providing the facilities for their long-standing commitment to peace.